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Employer speaking with a student at a recruitment event

On-Campus Recruitment

On-Campus Recruitment (OCR) is a highly competitive program that targets final year students who are looking to secure a full-time position well in advance of their graduation. Typically, employers who participate in this recruitment program, also, participate in our annual Career Fair and host Company Information Session on-campus.

Recruitment Cycle

Most medium to large size companies recruit during the Fall semester – beginning as early as September. The Federal Government begins their recruitment cycle in the Fall and may extend into the Winter semester depending on needs.

Here’s how the cycle works:

  • Employer posts position (s) in September/ October on OSCARplus
  • Employer hosts Company Information Session and/or participates in Career Fair
  • Posting deadline for application submission in late September/early October for OCR jobs
  • Employer hosts first interviews on-campus throughout October/November
  • Offers to students are submitted after November 1


Most small companies and not-for-profit organizations recruit throughout the Winter term.  This is the process:

  • Employer posts position (s) in January/ February
  • Employer host Company Information Session and/or participates in the Spring/Summer Employment Fair
  • Posting deadline for application submission in late February /early March
  • Employer hosts first interviews on-campus throughout February and March
  • Offers to students are submitted after March 1


An example of some employers who have participated in the On-Campus Recruitment program:

  • Telus
  • GE Canada
  • IBM
  • Imperial Oil
  • CIBC / TD / Royal Bank
  • KPMG
  • AECON


Participation in OCR

To participate in the OCR program, you must attend one On-Campus Recruitment workshop. Workshops are offered in September for students participating in the Fall recruitment cycle and in January for students who are participating in the Winter cycle.  All workshops are posted on OSCARplus. You must register to attend.

OCR is highly competitive. Here are some tips to help you prepare for participation in OCR:

  • Be organized
  • Stay ahead of your course requirements
  • Check OSCARplus for job postings on a regular basis - new positions can come up anytime
  • Research companies and industries to better target your applications
  • Attend recruitment events and network to learn what the company is looking for in a prospective employee
  • When attending recruitment events, dress for success and adhere to the McMaster Student Accountability Policy
  • Do not wait until the deadline date to apply - send your applications early!
  • Prepare well in advance for the interview process. The Student Success Centre offers Mock Interview Roundtables that will help you prepare. If you prefer to prepare for your interview independently, check out Interview Stream for tips and guidelines.


Job Search Tools

To apply for OCR positions, you need the following:

  • An up-to-date resume and cover letter which effectively outlines skills and experiences relevant to your job targets. Every application should include a resume and a cover letter addressed to a specific person. You will be provided with contact information for your letters on the job posting. The Student Success Centre offers drop-in clinics where you can have your resume reviewed by a member of our staff. Drop-in clinics occur on a weekly basis.
  • Transcripts are generally a must for full-time OCR positions. Order a copy of your transcripts (preferably an un-official copy) from the Registrar's Office.


Employers sometimes require students to complete a standardized CACEE application form. You can download the MSWord version of the application form from the CACEE website.

After your application has been submitted, employers will review resumes and provide the Student Success Centre with a shortlist of students they would like to interview. One of our staff members will contact all shortlisted students by email asking you to log into OSCARplus to sign-up for an interview timeslot.

It is important that you sign-up for your interview as soon as you receive the email to ensure that you pick a time that works with your schedule.  Some employers may contact shortlisted candidates directly. If you are contacted, you will be asked by the employer to select an interview time. Most of these interviews will be hosted off-campus, at the employer’s site.

Interviews should only be cancelled under extenuating circumstances.

Interview Preparation

Most interviews are behavioural based. Behavioral based interviewing accesses how the interviewee will act when faced with a specific situation. The logic is that how you behaved in the past will predict how you will behave in the future (i.e. past performance predict future performance).

Be prepared to provide details, actions and results when answering behavioural based questions. We have a number of resources available online and in-person to help you prepare for your upcoming interview. Check out the Services and Resources section on our site for more information. Follow up with a thank-you note after the interview.

Participating in OCR should not be the only tactic you employ when looking for full-time employment. Effective job searching includes:

  • Visiting company websites
  • Networking with family and friends – let them know that you are actively searching for a full-time position
  • Checking out other job search engines
  • Developing a great LinkedIn profile
  • Utilizing social media platforms for job search including Twitter and Facebook